The 10 Books That Have Most Influenced Dr. R.C. Sproul

11Apr

“Read as an act of worship. Read to be elevated into the great truths of God so that you may worship the Trinity in Spirit and in truth. Be selective about what you read, however. Measure all your reading against the touchstone of Scripture. So much of today’s Christian literature is froth, riddled with Arminian theology or secular thinking. Time is too precious to waste on nonsense. Read more for eternity than time, more for spiritual growth than professional advancement.” Joel R. Beeke

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines a “classic” as that which is “judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.” Therefore, based this definition here are some books that RC considers classics or “must” reading:

Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards

Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards

The Person of Christ by G.C. Berkouwer

Gospel Fear by Jeremiah Burroughs

Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs

Elenctic Theology (3 vols.) by Francis Turretin

Principles of Conduct by John Murray

Here I Stand (On the Life of Martin Luther) by Roland Bainton

Other Books That Have Influenced RC:

God and Modern Philosophy by James Collins

A Time for Truth by William Simon

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

American Caesar by W. Manchester

Power Golf by Ben Hogan

*Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian education ministry located near Orlando, Florida. His teaching can be heard on the program Renewing Your Mind, which is broadcast on hundreds of radio outlets in the United States and in 40 countries worldwide. He is the executive editor of Tabletalk Magazine and general editor of The Reformation Study Bible, and the author of more than seventy books (including some of my all time favorites: THE HOLINESS OF GOD; CHOSEN BY GOD; KNOWING SCRIPTURE; WILLING TO BELIEVE; REASON TO BELIEVE; and PLEASING GOD) and scores of articles for national evangelical publications. Dr. Sproul also serves as president of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and Reformation Bible College. He currently serves as Senior Minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, FL. I believe that his book The Holiness God will stand the test of time as a classic for generations to come. Next to the Bible no other book has influenced me more in my understanding of God, sin, and my own need of salvation and sanctification. I am forever indebted to Sproul’s influence in my life in helping me understand more than anyone else the importance of knowing the nature, character, and attributes of God, and how they impact every aspect of life.